Village of Bloomingburg officials vow to fight development

Friday

Oct 12, 2012 at 2:00 AMOct 12, 2012 at 7:26 AM

BLOOMINGBURG — The Bloomingburg mayor and Village Board said Thursday they'll begin looking at options to stop a massive housing complex, even as an angry local citizens' group promised to file paperwork this week to wipe the village off the map.

James Nani

BLOOMINGBURG — The Bloomingburg mayor and Village Board said Thursday they'll begin looking at options to stop a massive housing complex, even as an angry local citizens' group promised to file paperwork this week to wipe the village off the map.

Members of the Rural Community Coalition, made up of Bloomingburg and Mamakating residents, once again hammered the Village Board Thursday evening with questions on the approval two years ago of 396 housing units on Winterton Road. About 60 people came to the Village Board meeting, which was tense but less raucous than previous meetings.

"We looked to input from the public" when the project's approval process first began, Bloomingburg Mayor Mark Berensten told the crowd. "Where were you in 2006?"

Audience members, angered by the density of the project, asked the board to consult with New York State Department of Environmental Conservation lawyers to see if they could stop the project. They also asked the board to put a moratorium on building permits for the project.

After about 45 minutes of comments from the crowd, the board said it would schedule a special meeting because of the potential for litigation and then go into executive session. At one point, audience members pleaded with the board to go into executive session to discuss options immediately. They didn't, though board members agreed to call the DEC before the next meeting.

"It's going to be done," said Berensten.

Bill Herrmann of Bloomingburg said he didn't believe the village would do enough to stop the project, calling the board "incompetent." He said board members were getting bad legal advice from Village Attorney John Kelly. Other residents said the town needs a second opinion.

"Do not use this one attorney as your only source," said Jennifer Shaw of Bloomingburg.

Meanwhile, coalition members said they'll file paperwork this week to start a yearlong process to dissolve the village. Members said they've gathered enough signatures — 20 percent of registered voters in the village — to set the process in motion.

"This village needs to be dissolved. They have no clue," said Herrmann.

Deputy Village Mayor Clifford Teich said he "would leave no stone unturned" in trying to find options to fight the development, but was against dissolving the village.

"Dissolving the village of my forefathers and of my future grandchildren is just not an option," said Teich.

Coalition organizer Holly Roach said she might not have paid attention to development plans when they were approved, but felt the board failed to do its due diligence.

"I will never, never again ignore my local politics," she said.

jnani@th-record.com

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